Western Alamance's Middleton achieves 'secret goal'

Published: Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 01:00 AM.

The visit led Middleton on what she called “a whim,” which included flying alone for the first time. Once she stepped on campus, the Warriors center midfielder knew where she wanted to play.

“As soon as I got on the campus, I knew that the feeling was right,” Middleton said, “because I had been on multiple campuses and I felt good about them but none of them were perfect.

“A kind of secret goal of mine is to go in the ACC because it is the best women’s conference in the nation and it’s just something to aspire for. That Miami was interested in me is just crazy and great.”

So, even though there’s anxiety that comes with moving to the southern tip of the country, Middleton believes she made the right choice.

“So I’ve had these bouts of nervousness, but never any regret,” Middleton said. “Never any regret with saying no to the other schools, it has always been about the U.”

Middleton added that part of the draw to playing at an Atlantic Coast Conference school was that four road games will be played in North Carolina.

ELON — Western Alamance’s Betsy Middleton eagerly admitted to being out of her comfort zone Wednesday afternoon.

But, standing in front of family and her soccer teammates, Middleton addressed the crowd for what the celebration was about:

National Frozen Yogurt Day, Middleton told the crowd, breaking the ice and in turn opening with humor on the day she signed with the University of Miami for a soccer scholarship.

“It was weird having them come anyway, because literally guys, I’m signing a piece of paper,” a modest Middleton said. “I’m signing a piece of paper. But, I just decided I’d start with that because I like yogurt, too.”

Middleton has known she would be headed south for almost a calendar year, with the anniversary of her verbal commitment coming Feb. 13. That timeframe goes back to last year, when Miami coach Tom Anagnost saw Middleton play at a tournament in Atlanta with the Capital Area Soccer League team.

A connection developed there, with Anagnost seeing Middleton again in Florida and San Antonio.

“When I was in Texas, that was when he saw me the most and that was when he said he wanted me to visit,” Middleton said.

The visit led Middleton on what she called “a whim,” which included flying alone for the first time. Once she stepped on campus, the Warriors center midfielder knew where she wanted to play.

“As soon as I got on the campus, I knew that the feeling was right,” Middleton said, “because I had been on multiple campuses and I felt good about them but none of them were perfect.

“A kind of secret goal of mine is to go in the ACC because it is the best women’s conference in the nation and it’s just something to aspire for. That Miami was interested in me is just crazy and great.”

So, even though there’s anxiety that comes with moving to the southern tip of the country, Middleton believes she made the right choice.

“So I’ve had these bouts of nervousness, but never any regret,” Middleton said. “Never any regret with saying no to the other schools, it has always been about the U.”

Middleton added that part of the draw to playing at an Atlantic Coast Conference school was that four road games will be played in North Carolina.